Lost Landscapes is a new release CD (ODE 1405-0 that focuses on the work of Einojuhani Rautavaara (1928–2016), a 20^th century Finnish composer undeservedly ignored outside his native country and hopefully being finally reintroduced outside Finland by the ever-enterprising Ondine label.

Violinist Simone Lamsma, conductor Robert Trevino and the Malmö Symphony Orchestra are featured in this superbly produced release that includes Lost Landscapes(2015); In the Beginning (2015); and the posthumous 2 Sérénades.

Rautavaara’s music is unashamedly Romantic and tonal, and, in the gifted hands of Simone Lamsma and Robert Trevino, it is given an impassionedly committed reading that does not stint on melodic sweep and theatricality.

Since Einojuhani Rautavaara always used as a compositional point of departure the very titles he gave his creations, it is quite fitting that Lamsma and Trevino mine the bucolic quietude of Rautavaara’s Tanglewood, the urban vibrancy of West 23rd Street, NY; and the Old World elegance of Rainergasse 11, Vienna. This listener imagines that Ascona – the third movement of Lost Landscapes might be an homage of the late composer to his management. 

Einojuhani Rautavaara is a name that non-Finns might at first find challenging to pronounce. Rautavaara’s music, by contrast is eminently accessible.

Rafael de Acha (c) 2022